Falling in love is easy, but when it’s your best friend you’ve fallen for, the situation can get a little tricky.

If you’re attempting to turn your best friend into your boyfriend, you’ll need to tread carefully. We show you what to consider when negotiating your way out of the friend-zone…


Is it love?
Firstly, you need to ask yourself if it’s love, or a fleeting crush. Check that you’re not just attracted to him because he’s the forbidden fruit, or because you’re lonely. If your feelings have persisted for a while, it may be time to act on them.

Does he feel the same way?
Before you make the decision to declare your feelings, you may want to try sending out some subtle signals that you have romantic feelings for him, to see how he responds. Is he jealous of other men in your life? Does he flirt with you, or touch you more than necessary? The feeling may be mutual.

Heart to heart
You can analyse every hug, every glance and every word as much as you like, but sometimes the only way to know how he feels is to talk to him about it. You may risk losing the friendship, but if you don’t tell him how you feel, you risk losing a chance at true love and happiness. When the time comes, declare your feelings tentatively, and give him some space if he needs to think things through.

Situations to avoid
Avoid the friends with benefits situation – unless benefits are all you’re after. Make your feelings clear from the start by talking it through, not by jumping into bed! Casual sex rarely turns into a relationship, and is more likely to jeopardize your friendship.

Be careful if he already has a girlfriend. Declaring your feelings now may lead to you becoming the other woman, or he may be forced to choose between you and his girlfriend - and you could lose his friendship altogether.

Take it easy
If all goes well and romance ensues, it can be tempting to fast-track the relationship because you’ve already spent a lot of time getting to know each other. Going from friendship to a relationship can be a confusing time for both of you, so take things slow while you adjust to your new relationship status. 

As the song goes, love is a battlefield - and sometimes you end up with a broken heart. However some of the best relationships begin with a friendship, and this guy may be your chance at love, so don’t give up without a fight.

Kayla Langhorne